Suspicious fire destroys hay supply (update)

Officials estimate damages at $200,000; no injuries

BERINO >> A dairy is scrambling to find hay for its livestock after a suspicious fire destroyed more than 250 bales, leaving part of south county clouded with smoke as the flames smoldered into Tuesday.

Officials estimated that the fire caused about $200,000 in damages, but no injuries were reported. All the dairy's animals were spared, manager Jaime Segura said.

"All we can do is watch it and wait for it to burn down on its own," Segura said.

That process continued into Tuesday afternoon. The fire's smoke plume was prominent enough to be picked up by National Weather Service radar Monday night and remained clearly visible the next day.

Officials called it suspicious because an unknown number of people were seen in the area prior to the fire, leading investigators to more closely examine the case, Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kelly Jameson said.

Segura said he spent Tuesday morning with officials making sure the flames didn't spread to nearby homes or to the dry desert.

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Stored hay is known to spontaneously combust, but Segura suspects that's not what happened at Sun Valley Dairy.

He said the hay, which had been used to "feed the cows on a daily basis," was dry, loosely packed and regularly checked. Too much moisture in stored hay can cause heat to build up because of a natural curing process.

"We literally can't buy hay right now," Segura said.

He declined to answer other questions about the incident, saying they were more appropriate for ownership. The dairy's owner could not be reached Tuesday.

Over the years, firefighters and sheriff's deputies have investigated several suspicious hay fires. In November 2011, four volunteer firefighters from Mesquite were charged with arson for setting fire to hay bales because "they were bored," court documents said.

Other fires have been accidents. Segura said this was his dairy's first fire in several years.

"We've had a few fires around here over the years," he said. "It was just our turn, unfortunately, I guess."

James Staley can be reached at 575-541-5476

(12:51 p.m. update)

LAS CRUCES - Doña Ana County Fire and Emergency Services personnel wrapped up nearly 12 hours of firefighting early Tuesday morning after a massive hay fire in Berino destroyed more than 250 bales of hay.

According to investigators, the fire is suspicious in nature and remains under investigation with the assistance of the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office.

Firefighters from Anthony, Chamberino, La Union and South Valley responded to the fire at the Sun Valley Dairy in the 200 block of Links Road in Berino at approximately 7:30 p.m. Monday. All animals were quickly relocated to safety, and no injuries were reported.

Damages are estimated in excess of $200,000.

Crews remained at the dairy overnight to monitor the fire and were cleared from the scene at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The owner of the dairy will continue to monitor the hot spots to prevent flare-ups.

(8:27 a.m. update)

LAS CRUCES - No injuries or livestock losses have been reported as a result of a hay barn fire in Berino overnight, according to the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office.

DASO spokeswoman Kelly Jameson on Tuesday morning said firefighters were allowing the hay fire to burn out while ensuring the blaze does not spread.

Initial reports indicate the fire was reported around 7:30 p.m. Monday, and is considered to be suspicious, Jameson said. An unknown number of people were seen in the area prior to the fire, leading investigators to more closely examine the case.